Surrey Schools program facilitator wins Emerging Leader award at 2023 Surrey Women in Business Awards
Surrey Schools' Anamika Sangar (second from the right) was named this year's Emerging Leader at the 2023 Surrey Women in Business Awards. (Photo: Surrey Board of Trade)A Surrey Schools program facilitator is celebrating after winning this year’s Emerging Leader award at the 2023 Surrey Women in Business Awards, held by the Surrey Board of Trade.
Anamika Sangar, a program facilitator in the district's Community Schools Partnership (CSP) department, was recognized for her work overseeing outreach workers and supporting initiatives for families that face barriers accessing programs and resources.
“It truly was an honour to be recognized as an emerging leader in my community,” said Sangar, who added “as a Punjabi-Canadian woman who was born and raised in Surrey, I am thankful for the opportunity to represent young women of colour and be a positive role model to many.”
Created to recognize the work and contributions to the community by women in business, the Surrey Women in Business Awards is now in its 14th year, with awards handed out at a ceremony last week at the Guildford Sheraton. This year's sold out event featured Canadian musician Chantal Kreviazuk as the keynote speaker.
“It was such an inspiration to attend the Surrey Women in Business Awards and be in a room filled with so many inspiring women leaders,” recalled Sangar. “The event was an amazing opportunity to network with phenomenal women leaders in Surrey and discuss ways to support one another in our work.”
According to the awards website, the Emerging Leader Award “Identifies future leaders known for their innovative, meaningful contributions to the improvement of their profession and the efficiency of their workplace.”
“I’m so proud of Anamika,” said Meredith Verma, manager of Community Schools Partnership. “She has been with our department for three years and throughout those years she has really exemplified leadership in the school community.”
Having started as an outreach worker with CSP three years ago, Sangar became a program facilitator at the start of the 2022-23 school year after expressing a desire to take on a larger role within the department.
“Anamika grew up here in Surrey and has a deep sense of pride in her community, so I knew this was the right fit,” said Verma. “Whatever she takes on turns to gold and we’ve seen that reflected in the community programs she’s been a part of.”
Sangar herself is also a product of the CSP department, having participated in the REACH Program when she was a student at Princess Margaret Secondary.
“I am so extremely grateful to be a part of the CSP team,” said Sangar. “This department is near-and-dear to my heart and some of the most rewarding aspects of my job is building connections with students, families, and community partners all across Surrey and beyond as part of this team.”
Asked if she had any words of encouragement or advice for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps, Sangar said it begins with a belief in yourself.
“You are never too young or too old. You are never not enough. Know your worth, invest in yourself, and persevere. Be so unapologetically you. Radiate kindness, be bold, and believe that you can change the world!”
Congratulations Anamika!
